Champ188

96 CHAMP has it right ... goggle-eye, not google-eye. Easy mistake.

Just speaking for myself, I'd probably go elsewhere if I had to pay a special $4 fee at Viney. In fact, I'd probably use the little ramp at the gate if I was intent on putting in at Viney. Coming from Bella Vista, it's just as easy for me to put in right across the river at Big M. Haven't used the ramp at Emerald Beach but have fished around it and it doesn't look any better (or as good) as the little one-lane ramp outside the park at Viney.

Just watch out for the guy in the big Phoenix. He's been known to cut people off and worse. But if you manage to make friends with him, he might let you hang around close enough to his boat to catch some of the fish that are drawn to his Hydrowave.

Not saying I mind paying, just saying I've already paid with my $30 annual pass that I buy religiously every year. Of course, that money doesn't help the state since it goes to the Corps of Engineers.

Can't agree more, 5bites. And yes, nothing brings a couple closer than going thru a valley like this but I don't recommend it as a relationship-building tool.

+1 ... you'd forever be loved for taking grandpa on the fishing trip of a lifetime.

Seems the state could defray their cost by charging day-use fees to everyone but those who already hold an annual pass. Pretty sure the majority of users (other than the hardcore anglers like us) don't bother buying an annual pass.

I got a chuckle outta that one. Sounds EXACTLY like me ... continue throwing a topwater while my back-seater is catching half the fish in the lake bottom-dragging a soft plastic. Been there, done that. Was only a few years ago that my co-angler won this very same BFL derby dragging the most gosh-awful contraption I've ever laid eyes on. The thing began life as a PBJ-colored Eakins jig, but then he hung the biggest salt craw I've ever seen in my life off the back of it and proceeded to dye that entire craw chartreuse with a spray can of that Spike-It stuff that I just knew was gonna end up all over my boat before the day was over. I did manage to beat out a limit on my "sensible" offerings and make a check, but mostly I spent the rest of the day marveling at how those fish would bite that silly thing when I could literally see it as he drug it across the bottom in 10-15 feet of water.

Not a stupid question, 5bites, but yes, both of us had renal cell carcinoma within less than 2 years of each other. Donna was first 5 years ago and ended up having a radical nephrectomy (they took an entire kidney); mine came later and resulted in a partial nephrectomy (they removed a portion of my left kidney). Both of us are now cancer-free, thanks in part to the prayers of many, many friends, including a bunch right here on this forum. It's a privilege and a blessing to have my health back and be able to pray for the healing of others.

Nice trip and a good report. Glad you guys had a great time.

Let's pray him thru this, guys. Donna and I are living proof (literally) that it works. You guys helped pray both of us thru kidney cancer.

I think I may have a Dr. Seuss book about a Smoo.

No complaints here either.

Maybe the best news in all of this is that the spawn apparently has been a drawn-out process rather than an all-at-once event. With fewer fish on beds at a given time, fewer anglers (especially tournament types) are apt to go sight fishing for them, meaning they get to spawn without predation from above the water level. That all adds up to more fish for us in the future.

Remember the old Conway-and-Loretta song After the Fire Is Gone? The first line is "Love is where you find it." That's the post-spawn TW bite on Table Rock. Some will stay in the bigger spawning pockets until it gets lizard hot. Others will start showing up on gravel/chunk rock points at the mouths of the pockets. Still others will be on the bluff ends. Get out there "Babler early" -- before daylight -- and cover as much water as you can in order to find them, then work that pattern until it dies on you. Some mornings that will be 7:30, others they may keep going till 9 or 10. Clouds help. A little wind (but not too much) isn't a bad thing either. Just keep your eyes and ears open.

Agreed. Same bite as FB jig, more versatility as to what you can present to the fish.

SOX, I gotta hand it to you. You are one loyal BPS employee.

Doesn't matter if it's 7 or 300 hp. If the law is 6 hp, they are bending the law to accommodate Johnny World. Therefore, the law essentially becomes null and void for all.

I have no horse in this race, no dog in this hunt, etc. Don't fish there. My only remaining observation is you can't have one laiw for John Q. Public and another for Johnny World (BPS). Long as the city lets them break the law, whether by 1 horsepower or 200, they can't very well enforce it with anyone else.

Anytime, 96 CHAMP. I will do my best to help.

No, I have better things to do with my time ... such as fishing instead of worrying about who's breaking some silly horsepower rule.

If people break the law by using their big engines, write them a ticket and order them off the lake. If they do it again, revoke their privilege to use the lake. Sounds to me like what Mr. Andrews truly wants is a state of discrimination, which the present law may prescribe but the city is reluctant to enforce for fear someone will challenge it and it will be struck down. The city might as well tear their signs down now if indeed they are allowing BPS to come over there and run boats over 6 HP. If Johnny can, anyone can.

I believe there's some glitter and HP envy going on here.

Caught some big uns on it over the years.

Flitter Shad (commonly called Christmas Tree) or Blue Shore Minnow.